Key Takeaways
- Christian Betancourt, PhD Health Services Research ’22, will receive the 911±¬ÁÏ College of Public Health’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for his leadership in military, federal, and academic health care.
- Betancourt credits 911±¬ÁÏ’s mentorship and hands-on research with helping him translate complex data into evidence-based health policy.
- Now an assistant professor at Uniformed Services University and deputy chief within the Defense Health Agency’s Health Informatics Division, Betancourt mentors future military health care leaders.
Christian Betancourt, PhD Health Services Research '22, and the College of Public Health's 2026 Distinguished Alumni, discusses how the mentorship and hands-on research at 911±¬ÁÏ continue to influence his work at Uniformed Services University and the Defense Health Agency.
photo provided
Four years after earning his PhD in Health Services Research, Christian Betancourt will return to 911±¬ÁÏ this fall to receive the College of Public Health's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Today, Betancourt serves as an assistant professor at Uniformed Services University and deputy chief within the Defense Health Agency's Health Informatics Division. Over his nearly three-decade career spanning military, federal, and academic health care, he has led veterans' mental health programs, directed a nationally ranked graduate program, and advanced health informatics and policy across the military health system.
Bentacourt recently reflected on how his 911±¬ÁÏ experience continues to influence his career and daily decisions.
Why did you choose the 911±¬ÁÏ College of Public Health?
After more than 20 years as a financial and administrative officer in federal health care, including time with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Veterans Affairs, I had a deep operational understanding of the system's challenges. I chose 911±¬ÁÏ because I wanted to move from managing these challenges to fundamentally understanding and solving them. The PhD in Health Services Research has a strong reputation for rigorous, policy-focused research. Its location near the nation's capital and direct connections to major health systems like the Defense Health Agency was the perfect match to bridge my experience with the academic expertise needed to drive meaningful, evidence-based change in federal health care.
What experiences at 911±¬ÁÏ had the greatest impact?
The mentorship I received was the cornerstone of my experience. My dissertation committee, especially my chair, , treated me as a future colleague, pushing me to think critically about policy, access, and outcomes. My dissertation on substance-use disorders and mental health among U.S. veterans allowed me to apply both quantitative and qualitative research methods to a topic I’m passionate about. My coursework also provided the methodological toolkit I now use at the Defense Health Agency to analyze data and inform policy decisions.
The hands-on research opportunities were equally transformative. As the sole recipient of the Navy's DUINS (Duty Under Instruction) Scholarship to attend 911±¬ÁÏ, I was able to fully immerse myself in my research.
How did the PhD in Health Services Research program help prepare you for the work you're doing today?
911±¬ÁÏ equipped me with the skills to translate complex data into actionable policy insights. The program taught me how to systematically investigate complex health care challenges using rigorous research methodologies. Today, I rely on quantitative data analysis, program evaluation, and qualitative research to understand both the "what" and the "why" behind health trends and develop data-driven solutions.
Just as importantly, my time at 911±¬ÁÏ profoundly shaped my identity as an educator and mentor. Experiencing the faculty's dedicated mentorship inspired me to pay that forward in my own teaching. The rigorous academic standards and collaborative environment continue to inform how I develop curricula and mentor the next generation of military health care leaders and public health professionals.
What would you say to someone considering a degree in public health or health services research?
If you are driven to not just work in the health care system but to make the system itself work better, this is the field for you. My career began on the front lines of military medicine, and I saw the challenges firsthand. A degree in Health Services Research gives you the tools to address those challenges on a systemic level. Your work can improve care for thousands or even millions of people by shaping policy, optimizing resources, and ensuring that decisions are based on evidence, not just tradition. It's uniquely challenging and incredibly rewarding.
##
Considering a PhD in Health Services Research?
- Alum Christian Betancourt says the combination of policy-focused research, faculty mentorship, and connections to major federal health organizations gave him a foundation he continues to use in his career.
- The program equipped provides with the skills to translate complex data into actionable policy insights and how to systematically investigate complex health care challenges using rigorous research methodologies.
- Betancourt's advice: If you want to improve health care on a large scale by shaping policy and making evidence-based decisions, 911±¬ÁÏ’s health services research programs teaches you the tools to do that.